Fur processing device



Dec. 13, 1949 M. KOCH 2,491,007

FUR PROCESSING DEVICE Filed Oct. 29, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.1

mu?? -Max 00/? 9 ATTORNEY .Dec. 13, 1949 .M. KOCH FUR PROCESSING DEVICE Filed Oct. 29, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 H h Y 5% w W ia o 4 0.. v f.

F u o ,0 l 9 M 0 ,6. A m m M F o L 7 INVENTOR Max ffoc/z BY W ATTORNEY Dec. 13, 1949 M. KOCH 2,491,007

I FUR PROCESSING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct'. 29, 1945 73/ INVENTOR fi 6 Max JQw/z Dec. 13, 1949 M. KOCH FUR PROCESSING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 29, 1945 INVIENTOR Max jfoch fi ATToRNEY Patented Dec. 13, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,491,007 run PROCESSING DEVICE Max Koch, New York, N. Y., assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, of fifty per cent to Florence K. Edels'tein and fifty per cent to Melvin J .Koch, both of New York, N. Y.

A plication October 29, 1945, Serial No. 625,195

. 4 Claims.

. 1 a c This invention relates to furprocessing deviceltis particularly directed-to new and useful improvements in apparatus for cleaning, combing, straightening the hairs of fur or pile fabric and for putting a sheen on the surface of any type of vention can also be used on clothmaterial to :pcrfo-rm the above mentioned finishing processes.

This latter use is accomplished by the use of in- "terchangeable rollers in the device.

- fur or pile fabric employed in producing apparel -'1 or other articles. Th'edevice embodying the instraight so as to present a smooth surface; and

3. To place a sheen on the fur. Thisis done by means of moistening the fur and using a hot iron to cause a fine gloss to appear on the sur- .face. The usual hand process is longand tedious. The use of'existing devices on the market is still a tedious long process. Many prior devices are such that the combing is lfollowed'byithe, sheen- -"ing. The time interval depends upon the operator. I n

The present invention is "acombination cleaner, comber and sheener, all in one unitan d is constructed as a portable device. The unique features are I V v i 1. All the processes are donein one operation and all atone time. gThe sheeningis instantaneous, i. e., the fur isjcpmbed and showed in one operation. No interval of time elapses between any of the processes (cleaning, combing c e n 2. Since the cleaner is essentially a vacuum cleaner, the fur is pulled tight againstthe open surface of the device, thus providing 'a uniform'ity ie a t o for ombine a d h en e- I 3. The combing is accomplished bythe use of a rotating ro1ler, c onisisting.,of pins placed ,in a helical line on. the roller. This same roller con tains the ironing platens, al soplaced helically and longitudinally onthe roller. as the hairs of the-fur are cleaned, straightened and combed, the sheen is produced. 'Thejironing is accomplished by using a heating unit, within the roller.

Fl. Fordifferent types oi 'fur (some hair longer or'shorter') an "adjustable-skidplate-is provided used as a sheener only.

2 so that the combing pins do not cut into the fur skin.

5. In the event additional heat is required to produce the sheen and the center of the roller does not provide sufli'cient space, an additional eating unit may be placed in the section of the main frame adjacent to the skid plate.

6. Ihere are two switches on the device; one is to turn on the motor for the operation of the vacuum cleaner and comber and the other is to turn on the heat in the roller. The heat in the roller will be thermostatically controlled.

'7. The rollers are easily removed.

8. There may be varying types of rollers for combing, such as, p

(a) Pins as shown on the assembly.

(72) A helical section of a wire brush (1. e., a

wire brush instead of the steel pins). Rollers may be provided for each finishing process separately, i. e., instead of performing all the processes in one operation, the device may be used as a vacuum cleaner only. The device may be used as a comber only. The device may be (Using special rollers for each process).

9. The handle of the device will be a hollow hand grip type, to permit a firm grip and to permit the wire from the power source to enter the mechanism'.

10. The vacuum bag will be at the side of the mechanism, to the right when the device is held for use. If the fur to be cleaned is placed horizontally on a table then a flexible tube is inserted into the air exhaust and the bag can be placed upon the floor and out of the way.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a strong, rugged and durable portable device of the character described which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble and manipulate, and which shall yet be practical and efiicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified. in the construction herein after described, and

of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown variouspossible illustrative embodiments of this invention, 7

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a device embodying the invention; it r 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the mechanism for adjusting the skid plate;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-4: of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the bottom casin section;

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan View of the top or cover casing section;

Fig. 9 is a side view of the casing;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on line |0|6 of the casing shown on Fig. 1; and

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on line |||I of the casing shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, I0 designates a device embodying the invention. The

same comprises a two part casing consisting of an upper or cover section or part I2, and a lower section or part I3 having mutually contacting edges on plane XX indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawing. The cover section I2 comprises side walls l4 and Ma interconnected by a top rear substantially semi-cylindrical longitudinal wall I 5, and a front substantially semi-cylindrical longitudinal wall I6. The top casing section is open at the bottom and formed with an intermediate annular transverse rib 1 parallel to side wall I4. Wall I4 is formed at its lower edge with a semi-circular opening for the purpose hereinafter appearing. The rib I1 has lower edges |1a flush with the lower edge 22 of the upper casing section I2. Said upper casing section is further- .more formed with an integral, upward projection 23 formed with a horizontal top surface 24. Between casing portions I5 and I6 is a central raised channel 25 flaring in opposite directions towards casing portion I5. On opposite sides of the raised portion 25 are recesses 21.

Between the casing portions I5 and I6, and on opposite sides of the raised portion 25 are longitudinal partition walls 28 and 29, the lower surfaces of which are in the plane of edge 22. Between the partitions 28, 29 is a channel 30 formed below the raised wall 25. Partition 29 is formed with a notch 3| adjacent wall |4a. At the corners of the end edge of the casing section I2 are counterbored through holes 32. of walls I4 and Ma are formed with intermediate vertical counterbored through openings 33. Holes 32, 33 are at right angles to surface or edge 22 and are counterbored at their upper ends.

In the projection 23 are formed a pair of upwardly extending threaded openings 35 for the purpose hereinafter appearing. The portions of side walls l4 and Ma at the ends of the casing wall I5 are formed at their inner surfaces with part circular recesses 31.

The bottom casing section I3 is complementary to the top casing. It is provided with side walls and 4| aligned with the side walls I4 and Ma respectively, of the top casing section. The side walls are interconnected by a bottom, substantially semi-circular wall 42. Wall 42 has a rear upper edge 43 which contacts the rear end edge 44 of casing portion I6. The side walls 40 and 4| have upper edges 46 which contact the edges 22 of the side walls I4, |4a of the casing. At the forward end of casing wall 42 are upper aligned spaced longitudinal edges 48 and 49 adapted to contact the edges 28 and 29 of the upper casing.

The end edges Between edges 48, 49 is a recess or channel 50 complementary with channel 30 of the upper casing and forming an air passage therewith. Edge 48 is formed with a notch 48a registering with notch 3|, to form a passage for a drive belt, as will appear hereinafter.

Wall 4|! is formed with a semi-circular upwardly extending flange 5| adapted to be received within the notch 26 of wall I4 of the upper casing section. Said flange 5| is formed with a bearing :opening 52 axially disposed with respect to the casing. The lower casing section is furthermore formed with a transverse partition 53 aligned with the rib I1 of the upper casing. Partition 53 comprises a semi-annular rib portion 54 having upper edges 54a adapted to contact the end edges |1a of rib I1. Extending upwardly from rib 54 is a radial tongue 55 provided with a semi-circular portion 56 which projects above the upper edges 54a of said rib. Tongue 56 is formed with an axial through opening 51 similar to opening 52. Rib 54 connects with longitudinal edge 49 of the lower casing section as shown in Fig. '1 of the drawing. Said lower casing section is furthermore formed with a transverse partition 66 parallel to rib 54 and spaced therefrom and interconnecting with edge 48. Said partition 66 has an upper edge 6| at the level of the upper edge 43. It is formed with an axial semi-circular bearing opening 62. Said partition 60 is furthermore formed with a pair of spaced semi-annular upwardly extending lugs 63 each provided with a through opening 64.

It will now be understood that between walls 40, I4 and ribs 54, I1 is a chamber 65 for a suction fan as will appear hereinafter. Between ribs 54, I1 and 60 is a passage 66 which communicates with the passage formed by the combined channels 30 and 50. Fan chamber 65 thus communicates through openings 61 in wall 54 with passages 66 and 30, 56, and hence with chamber 68 formed by the casing portion I5 which houses a combing and pressing roller 69 as will appear hereinafter.

Between walls 60 and 4 I, |4a is a motor chamber 1!]. Walls 46 and 4| extend forwardly beyond casing wal1 42 as at 1| and 12, respectively, said extensions underlying the forward ends of the side walls of the upper casing section. Said extensions are formed on their inner surfaces with part circular recesses .14 which together with the recesses 31 form circular recesses. The axis for said circular recesses is below the upper edges 46 of the lower casing. Wall extension 12 and the portion of wall I4 adjacent thereto is formed with a drilled opening 15 co-axial with the recess in said wall. The lower casing is formed in the upper surface thereof and at the four corners thereof with tapped openings 16 registering with the openings 32. Said side walls are also formed with tapped openings 11 registering with openings 33. Said walls II, 12 are also formed adjacent the forward ends thereof with aligned horizontal through openings 18.

The lower casing is provided on the underside thereof and at the forward end of the casing wall 42, with a thickened portion formed with a horizontal through opening 8|. Said thickened portion and also the wall extension 1|, 12 are formed with a fiat undersurface 83 disposed at an angle to the top edge of said casing. Said lower casing section is also formed with a rearwardly extending tubular mouth 84 communicating with. chamber 65. The tube 84 is parallel to the upper edge of the lower casing section. Said lower casing section is also formed with a nipple extension 86 communicating with passage 66. The

p enom nipple 86 is centrally located relative tothe lower casing sectiomand-is on an a-xis inclineddownywzatrdlyand rearwardly relative tothe upper edge ,of said section. -Said nipple extension 85 is formed with a tapped opening 81 and is provided with -a passage 88 communicating with passage 66. Said tubular extension or nipple 88 is formed'at its underside with a blind tapped opening 9I for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

The top and bottom casing sectionsare attached togetherby screwspassing through the through openings 32 and 33 and screwedinto .the threaded openings 1-6 and I1.

Attached to the brackets 63 by means of screws -.passing through the openings 64 is a motor M provided with a horizontal output shaft 92. The shaft 92 rests within the semi-circular opening "62 and is coupled to afan shaft92a which passes "throughthe through openings 51 and 52. The "fan s'haft 92a which passes through the fan "chamber 65 carries a rotary fan 93 adapted to "blow air through the tubular pasage'84. The fan hen'c'e'sucks air into the casing through the roller chamber 68, through channel 30, 50 and 'passages 56 and opening 51. It will be noted that "the inlet side of the fan is toward the passage 66.

The motor M is provided with a pulley 94'for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Rotatably mounted on and between the side extensions II, 12 in the manner hereinafter appearing is the processing roller 69. Said roller 59 comprises a sleeve-95 formed with a through opening 06. Sleeve 95 has end portions 9'! of reduced outer-diameter. On one of saidterminal -"portions is fixed a pulley 88 aligned "with pulley '94. 'Receivedo'n'said pulleys 94, 98 is a drive belt 98 passing through the combined notches'3I, 48a. On the ends of theterminalportions-SI are bushings I having annular flange portions received within the recesses 14, 31 in the walls l' l, Ma. The portion of the'roller between the reduced ends is formed witha pair of oppositely disposed, helicallyextending flat surfaces IOI. Said esurfaces I 0| are each formed with a helical row of spaced openings I02. Force fitted into each opening isa radial pin I03 projecting beyond said flat surfaces. The pins I03 constituting comb teeth for combing the fur or fabric.

Said roller is furthermore formed 'with op osite helically extending flats I05 leading from the flat surfaces I-0I. Extending from said flat surfaces I05 are outwardly inclined surfaces I06 forming oppositely extending, helical edges I01.

Between the edges I01 and the flats IOI are helically extending part cylindrical surfaces I08.

The roller is rotated by the motor in a clockwise direction looking at Fig. 3 of the drawing.

Inserted within the through opening 96 is an :electric unit heater IIO. The heater H0 maybe 5 inserted through the opening and fixed to the casing by a friction fit -or set screw. -I-he unit heater is spaced from the roller'and may thus be stationary while the roller rotates. An additional 1 electric heater I=II maybe inserted into opening 8I of the lower casing, the heaters being wired to connections extending externally'of the easing. Attached to tube 84 is a bag H2 similarto a vacuum cleaner bag.

Contacting surface 24 on the top of: the casing is an upwardly and .rearwardly curved handle II3 which may be. attached to the projection 28 by means of screws passing through openings in the handle andscrewed to the threaded openings f -knob I32 raises and lowers the skid plate.

- ing.

45. It will be noted thatstuhe al; is at a tangent to the circular fan chamber 65 to receive-air therefrom. Attached to tube 86 is a hollow straight handle I I5 which-may be screwed into the threaded opening 81. An electric cord 'IIG provided with a plug III for connection to any suitable wall'outlet extends into the handle and -may extend through the handle and through *opening 88 for connectionto the motor.

--said opening I22. Extending from plate portion I is .a rearwardlyextending arm I23 formed with a bifurcation to provide a pair of parallel arms I. Thearms'l'24 are formed with aligned longitudinal'slots I 25 for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Screwed intotheopening 9| is a screw I26 having a downwardly extending pin portion I21 formed with "an" annular groove =I28. Fitted over pin I21 is a sleeve I30. Extending through the "s1eeve'I30 is av pin I3I projecting into groove I28 I36 which projects *into the slots I25 of the bifurcated-arms I24o'fthe skid plate. Interposed between the skidplate a'ndthe underside of. sleeve I30 and disposedabou't screw I34 'isa'coil coinpression spring I40. Rotation of the non-metallic The "spring I40 serves to lessen the tendency of unwanted rotation due to vibration.

The skid plate I20 is provided at the forward (corners thereof with upstanding apertured ears having openings registering with the openings I8. Extending through said ears and opening I8 'are'pivot pins I5I for pivotally connecting the skid plate to the casing.

In operation, the device. is :pulled over the fur 'or fabric to be processed. The motor rotates the ro'ller; the fan rotates; and the heaters are heated. The teeth comb the hairs. The heat applies a sheen to the fur and the blower operates *as a vacuum cleaner.

Furthermore, since the device is essentially a vacuum cleaner, the fur is pulled into the opening's at the bottomproviding uniformity of pressure on the fin to facilitate combing and'sheen- 'It will be noted that all the processes are done in one operation at substantially the same time and there is'no timelag between the combing, the ironingor sheen-ing, and the cleaning. The hairs are straightened as they are combeddue to contact of the pins with the hairs.

The'skid'pla'te is adjustable for hairs of different length so that the combing pins will not cut iii-toi-thefur skin. Either one or two heaters may be used. The device is preferably provided with suitable switchesior the motor and for the separate and combined heater.

The heaters are'preferably controlled by usual thermostats set formaximum heat.

Furthermore, various rollers may be provided I substituting wire brushes for'the steel pins. Ob- ;18 viou'sly, the rdevic'emay be .used as a vacuum cl'eaner only or as a comber only oras a sheene only.

In assembling the device, the roller with the -'two .brass bushings thereon is placed in the recesses 14. Prior to placing the roller on the lower the bushings against rotation and permits the roller when driven to revolve freely relative to the fixed bushings.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a;

vdevice in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made "oflthe above invention, and as various changes,

might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or Shown in the accompanying drawing'is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A portable device movable manually over the exterior of a fur garment for dust cleaning,

heating, ironing and glazing the fur of said 30 garment and comprising a casing, a handle positioned over said casing and adapted to be gripped by the hand of the operator for moving the casing over the garment, said casing having a transverse opening at its bottom, a roller, means for mounting said roller for rotation within the casing above said opening and coextensively therewith, said roller projecting into said opening, a motor within said casing, drive means to connect said motor with said roller, a fan in said casing, drive means to connect said fan with said motor, the inlet end of said fan being in communication with said opening so as to produce a suction of air at said opening when the motor drives the fan, for dustcleaning the fur of the garment, said roller being formed with an axial opening, an electric heating unit within said axial opening, for heating the roller, said roller having at its exterior, helically extending partly cylindrical surfaces for ironing the fur, and said roller being formed with helically extending grooves between said partly cylindrical surfaces, and each of said grooves having a helical edge for glazing the fur as said device is moved over the fur and pressed there- 55 against.

2. A portable device movable manually over the exterior of a fur garment for dust cleaning, heating, ironing and glazing the fur of said garment and comprisin a casing, a handle positioned over said casing and adapted to be gripped by the hand of the operator for moving the casing over the garment, said casing having a transverse opening at its bottom, a roller, means for mounting said roller for rotation,

:within the casing above said opening and coextensively therewith, said roller projecting into said opening, a motor within said casing, drive means to connect said motor with said roller, a

fan in said casing, drive means to connect said fan with said motor, the inlet end of said fan being in communication with said opening so .as to produce a suction of air at said opening when the motor drives the fan, for dust cleaning the fur of. the garment,. said roller being :15

The complete cir- 10 'formed with an axial opening, an electric heating unit within said axial opening, for heating the roller, said roller having at its exterior, helically extending partly cylindrical surfaces for ironing the fur, and said roller being formed with helically extending grooves between said partly cylindrical surfaces, and each of said grooves having a helical edge for glazing the fur as the device is moved over the fur and pressed thereagainst, said roller being furthermore formed at its exterior surface with flat, helically extending surfaces, and pins projecting from said flat surfaces, for combing the fur.

3. A portable device movable manually over .the exterior of a fur garment for dust cleaning, heating, ironing and glazing the fur of said garment and comprising a casing, a handle positioned over said casing and adapted to be gripped by the hand of the operator for moving the casing over the garment, said casing having a transverse openin at its bottom, a roller, means for mounting said roller for rotation within the casing above said opening and, coextensively therewith, said roller projecting into said opening, a motor within said casing, drive means to connect said motor with said roller, a fan in said casing, drive means to connect said fan with said motor, the inlet end of said fan being in communication with said opening so as to produce a suction of air at said opening when the motor drives the fan, for dust cleaning the fur of the garment, said roller being formed with an axial opening, an electric heating unit within said axial opening, for heating the roller, said roller having at its exterior, helically extending partly cylindrical surfaces for ironing the fur, and said roller being formed with helically extending grooves between said partly cylindrical surfaces, and each of said grooves having a helical edge for glazing the fur as the device is moved over the fur and pressed thereagainst, said roller being furthermore formed at its exterior surface with flat, helically extending surfaces,'and pins projecting from said *flat surfaces for combing the fur, said casing being formed with a through opening parallel to the roller and rearwardly thereof, and a second electric heating unit in said last mentioned through opening.

4. A portable device movable manually over the exterior of a fur garment for dust cleaning, heating, ironing and glazing the fur of said garment and comprising a casing, a handle positioned over said casing and adapted to be gripped by the hand of the operator for moving the casing over the garment, said casing having a transverse opening at its bottom, a roller, means for mounting said roller for rotation within the casing above said opening and coextensively therewith, said roller projecting into said opening, a motor within said casing, drive means to connect said motor with said roller, '2. fan in said casing, drive means to connect said fan with said motor, the inlet end of said -fan being in communication with said opening so as to produce a suction of air at said open ing when the motor drives fan, for dust cleaning the fur of the garment, said roller being formed with an axial opening, an electric heating unit within said axial opening for heating the roller, said roller having at its exterior, partly cylindrical surfaces for ironing the fur, andsaidroller being formed with grooves be MAX KOCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Finkhausen Aug. 26, 1924 Oatey May 5, 1925 Number 10 Name Date Buono Mar. 26, 1929 Zabel Aug. 13, 1929 Friedman Sept. 16, 1930 Cooper Aug. 11, 1931 Frommer Mar. 20, 1934 Smellie May 8, 1934 Frantz Jan. 14, 1936 Frommer Sept. 12, 1939 Schaefer Dec. 29, 1942 Hart Sept. 7, 1943 Troxler Mar. 28, 1944 Nelson May 22, 1945 Griflin et a1. July 30, 1946 

